Foldable back rest



Oct. 28, 1947. F P. BLANCHARD E'i'AL 2,429,795

' FOLDABLE BACK BEST 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1944 INVENTORS FRED F? BLFINCHFIRD BSHM F EINMFI N mix Jmka ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1947 FOLDABLE BACK REST Fred P. Blanchard and Sam Feinman, New York, N. Y.

Application February 5, 1944, Serial No. 521,198

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the field of Seating devices and more particularly to foldable back rests.

Among the objects of the present invention lies the provision of a combination back rest and head and shoulder rest which is, in the folded condition thereof, extremely compact.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a device of the class described which, in the 'adevice of the class described which, while light in weight and not bulky, is relatively strong and durable.

Another object herein lies in the-provision of means by the use of which the device, when utilized as a head and back rest, may be adjusted to take a plurality of positions to accommodate.

the desire of the user, assuring a comfortable position of the weight supporting parts.

Another object herein lies in the provision of 'a device of the class described wherein the seat element is adapted for use upon various surfaces, as will more fully appear hereinbelow.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the complete device is of relatively simple construction so that the same may be manufactured on a large scale at low cost and have a consequent wide distribution and use.

A still further object herein lies in the provision of a combination collapsible back rest and head and shoulder rest wherein a single element is adjustable through a plurality of positions so as to comfortably conform in position to the small of the users back when the device is in a position to act as a back rest and to comfortably conform in position to accommodate the head of the user when the device is in a position to act as ahead and shoulder rest.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended-claims.

In the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective as seen from the right and above, showing generally the front appearance of a combination back rest and head and shoulder rest embodying the invention. In this View the device is shown in a set-up condition for use as a back rest.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective showing the device of Figure 1 as altered in position to function as a shoulder and head rest. The parts are generally positioned in this figure as they might be seen from the rear of Figure 1 with the relatively movable plate and associated parts in an altered tilted position.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective showing the device in a folded or collapsed condition with the'handle elevated for use.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 4-4 on Figure 5.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 55 on Figure 2.

In accordance with the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1-5 inclusive, the combination back rest and head and shoulderrest is generally indicated by reference character In. The device It] broadly includes a seat element l I and a back element 12, the seat element and the back element being pivotally interconnected by pivotal mountin means generally indicated by reference character l3. In order to predetermine the greatest separation of the back element from the seat element the pivotal mounting means are provided with stop means I4. 'For the purpose of adjusting the interrelation of the back element and the seat element when pressure is applied from the rear surface 15 of the back element, adjustable bracing means [6 is provided.

The seat element ll may be composed of any suitable planar material having adequate strength characteristics. We have found plywood or Masonite to be satisfactory. The seatelement H has a forward edge H, a rear edge 18, a right side edge I9 and aleft side edge 20. The front and rear edges are preferably parallel, and this is also true of the side edges l9 and 20. The forward corners 2| and 22 are preferably rounded so as topresent no sharp points which could hurt the sitter or snag stockings when the user is wearing them.

The back element I2 includes a. primary plate 23 which is movable with relation to the seat element l l and a secondary plate 24 which is pivotally associated with the primary plate 23. The

I primary plate 23 is preferably composed of a thin rear surface of the back element l2 the primary plate 23 is preferably provided with a primary plate cushioning member 25 (see Fig. 2).

One surface of the secondary plate 24 is prorials and construction arewell known in the art to which the present invention relates, they are not shown as to constructional details in the drawings. It will be noted, however, that it is desirable that the cushioning members 25 and 25 have a relatively high resilience since it is desirable that they be compact so that when the device I 0 is in folded condition it will not assume undesirable bulk.

The primary plate 23 has a front or upper edge 21 and a rear or lower edge 28, a right side edge 29 and a left side edge 30. The secondary plate has edges 3!, 32, 33 and 34..

The pivotal mounting means generally indicated by numeral I3 includes a pair of hinges 35 and 35. The hinges 35 and 35 include seat element attaching members 3'! and 38 and primary plate attaching members 39 and 45, respectively. The members 37-45 inclusive are each provided with attaching flanges ll-44, and guide flanges 45-48, respectively. The attaching flanges 41 and 42, and 43 and 44 are secured to the seat element l l and the primary plate, respectively, in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of rivets. The hinges 35 and 36 are constructed for normal pivotal operation by the use of the pivot pins 49 and 55. As will be understood from a perusal of Figures 2 and 1, it will be seen that the juxtaposed ends of the attaching flanges are adapted to abut against each other and to thus form the stop means 14 which prevents the separation or opening up ofthe hinges 35 and 35 beyond a predetermined position or angle; This angle is preferably substantially greater than 90 for greatest comfort and not only positions the secondary plate cushioning member 26 to properly support the small of the users back but also positions the forward surface 51 of the primary plate 23 so that it may support the sitter at a lower area. The inner opposed surfaces of the guide flanges 45 and 45 preferably abut against the edges [9 and 2B of the seat element I! while the guide flanges 4'! and 55 are preferably spaced outwardly from the edges 29 and 35 of the primary plate 23 to provide space for the brace mem bers 52 and 53 which are disposed thereat. The brace members are stiff but highly resilient. The guide flanges 4'! and 48 are provided with indentations 54 and 55 which exposeportions of the brace members in the concealed inactive position thereof so that they may be engaged by the fingers of the user to pull them out to one of the active positions thereof.

As previously stated, the secondary plate 24 is pivotally connected to the primary plate 23 in such manner that the secondary plate may ro tate about its own longitudinal axis which is dis posed generally transversely to the device iii. The guide flanges 4i and 48 are provided with extensions 55 and 51 and at the relatively free terminals thereof are pivotally connected to the pivoted ends of the brace members 52 and 53 and to the edges 33 and 34 of the secondary plate substantially at the longitudinal axis thereof. In

order that the secondary plate and the brace members 52 and 53 may be conveniently manipulated and have some tendency to remain in a temporarily adjusted position thereof, it is desirable that a certain amount of compression or friction exist in the pivotal connection at the pins 58 and 59. While the frictional engagement of the parts just described may hold them in position when not under stress, it is desirable that the degree of friction be sufficiently low so that when the weight of the user is placed upon the cushioning member 26, the plate 24 may rotate to a position of equilibrium.

When the device In is in a position for use as a head and shoulder rest, as seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5, the lower ends 58 and 59 of the brace members 52 and 53 are adapted to engage a type of rack which includes a plurality of detent members generally indicated by reference character 60. The detent members 60 may be fabricated by perforating the seat element l I with the rows of perforations BI and 62 and then inserting nails inwardly from the edges is and 25. The exposed portions of the nails form the detent members 50. Obviously, any number of orifices in the rows El and 62 may be utilized so that the degrees of adjustment of angularity of the primary plate 23 may be fine or coarse.

For the purpose of permitting the utilization of the present device upon various surfaces, we have provided resilient friction blocks 63 on the lower surface 64 of the seat element ll. These blocks may be composed of rubber and serve to compensate when the seat element II is placed upon an irregular surface and also to prevent slippage of the seat element prior to and during the occupancy thereof.

The handle means 65 includes a handle member 65 which is pivotally connected at the ends thereof to the handle supports 51 and 68 at the outer ends thereof. The inner ends of the supports 6? and B8 are pivotally secured to the seat element H adjacent to the edge l8. This construction forms a collapsible U-shaped structure which may be collapsed inwardly of the edge I8 so that the same is concealed and does not form a dangerous protuberance when the device is set up for use. This concealment of the handle means 65 is illustrated in Fig. 2, and is accomplished by rotating the supports 6? and 58 in either direction from the position shown in Fig. 3 about the'pivots 59 and 19. The parts may thus be moved to the position indicated by the dot dash lines on Fig. 3.

' Operation Assuming the device to be in a condition as shown in Figure 3, in order to use it as a back rest the handle means 55 is moved to the collapsed position thereof, as indicated'by the dot dash lines on said figure. The edge I! and the edge 3| or 32, as the case may be, are manually grasped and supported so that the attaching members 39 and 40 swing about the pins 49 and 55 and take theposition shown in Figure 1. Theare grasped within the indentations 54 and 55 and pulled forward as seen in Figure 1, or rearward as seen in Figure 2, and the back element I2 is swung forward as'seen in Figure 1 or rearward as seen in Figure 2. At a desired position of angularity the lower ends 58 and 59 of the brace members are engaged with the correspondingly positioned detent members 60. The secondary plate 24 isrotated through 180 so that the cushioning members 25 and 26 both face in the same direction. The device will now appear as shown in Figure 2. In this use the device may be rested upon by a reclining person whose shoulders" or the upper portion of whose back will engage the cushioning member 25 and whose head will engage the cushioning member 26. The member 26 together with the plate- 24 will rotate to reach a position of equilibrium in engagement with the users head. It may be noted at this point that where desired the device, as shown in Figure 2, may be also used as a back rest in whichthe cushioning member 26 may engage the small of th users back and the cushioning member 25 may engage a lower portion of the users back. When so used, the sitter will actually be sitting upon the surface which supports the seat element H and not on the seat element itself. The device II] is prevented from slipping out of position by the blocks 63. The use of the device l0 as a shoulder and head rest is found convenient and comfortable at water resorts, on lawns, beaches, parks, etc.

Returning the device ID to its original position of Figure 3 from either of the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, is arelatively simple matter and requires only a reversal in order of the steps previously described.

It may thus be seen that we have provided a novel and useful device of the class described, which is highly adaptable and eflicient in use.

We do not desire to be limited to the exact details shown forobvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

We claim:

1. A collapsible combination seat, back and shoulder rest and head rest comprising: a seat element; a back rest adapted in a first position and on one side thereof to support the users back and in a second position and on the other side thereof to support the head and shoulders of the user, said back rest being pivotally connected to said seat element and including a primary member, extensions disposed outwardly of the primary member and a secondary member, pivotally conl 6 nected to said extensions and freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis through at least 180 degrees; stop .means to limit movement of said back rest away from the seat element in the first position in which the back element forms an angle with respect to the seat element of at least degrees; adjustable bracing means at one end thereof being pivotally connected to said extensions and at the other end thereof detachably engageable with said seat element at a plurality of locations to secure said back element in the second position in which the back element forms an angle with respect to the seat element of less than 90 degrees; whereby when the backelement is in said first position the secondary member may swing freely to adjust to a position of equilibrium to accommodate the users back, and when the back element is in the second position the primary member may support the shoulders of the user and the secondary member may be reversed in position and swing freely to adjust to a position of equilibrium to accommodate the head of the user.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the seat element is provided with a plurality of trans-- versely disposed detent members with which the relatively free ends of the adjustable bracing means are detachably engageable.

FRED P. BLANCHARD. SAM FEINMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Name 337,521 Scarritt Mar. 9,1866 534,582 Sargent Feb. 19, 1895 686,280 Gaudin Nov. 20, 1901 696,425 Farr Apr. 1, 1902 916,379 Kalitzky Mar. 23, 1909 959,235 Lemieux May 24, 1910 969,099 Fuchs Aug. 30, 1910 1,349,227 Shkor Aug. 10, 1920 1,140,997 Minehart May 25, 1915 1,404,461 Mendenhall Jan. 24, 1922 1,480,286 Morganstern Jan. 8, 1924 1,708,045 Bendixen Apr. 9, 1929 1,933,096 Child Oct. 31, 1933 1,997,767 Dorkins Apr. 16, 1935 2,044,717 McElmoyl June 16, 1936 2,074,653 Larsen Mar. 23, 1937 2,236,152 McKissick Mar. 25, 1941 2,239,669 Blake Apr. 29, 1941 

